Improvement in velocipedes



T. E. M. WHITE.

Velocipede. No. 89,102. Patented April 20, 1869.

-' tlnitxl same game W tftitr.

THOMAS E. M. WHITE, OF NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS. Letters Patent No.89,102, dated April 20, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN VELOCIPEDES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of thesame.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, THOMAS E. M. WHITE, ofNew Bedford, in the county of Bristol, and State of Massaohusetts, haveinvented a rowing-carriage; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to theaccompanying dra ings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon. 7

My invention consists in a device for conveying motion to adriving-wheel, and in so making a carriage that it may be propelled bythe operator, by the same movement as in rowing a boat, and steered bypulling harder with one hand than the other.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the device for conveying motion to thedriving-wheels.

Fig. l. A A, driving-wheels.

B, swivel-wheel, having the centre of the wheel back of the centre ofthe pivot, that it may follow the motion of the carriage in the mannerof a caster.

G C, loose pulleys.

D D, bands, for operating loose pulleys and cams.

E, spring, for recovering loose pulley after each stroke.

F F, reversing-pulleys.

G, frame of carriage.

H, seat.

I, yoke on pivot of swivel-wheel.

J, socket, through which pivot passes.

K, rest for feet.

L L, handles on loose ends of bands D .D

Fig. 2. A portion of driving-wheel.

O", loose pulley.

D", band.

M", lever-cam.

N hub of wheel.

a, pin, forming the fulcrum of the lever-cam b b", 850., spokes ofwheel.

Operation.

The above carriage, being constructed, as shown, with twodriving-wheels, and a swivel or caster-wheel, and having applied to thedriving-wheels loose pulleys, in which are lever-cams, and around whichare belts, bands, or chains, each having one end attached to the top ofits respective cam, its operation may be noted.

I The person wishing to propel the carriage sits on the seat H, with hisfeet against the rest K, reaches forward, and grasps the handles L L,and pulls them toward him. The other ends of the bands D D, being madefast to the tops of cams, (see 1\" fig. 2,) draws them forward, andforces their lower ends firmly against the hubs of the wheels, causingthe wheels to revolve with the pulleys, and thus propels the carriage.

Having finished his stroke, the rider reaches forward, slacking up thebands, which relieves the pressure of the cams on the hubs, and thesprings (see E, fig. 1) cause the loose pulleys to recover their formerposition, winding up the bands, as they go, in readiness for anotherstroke.

To turn to the right, the rider pulls harder with the left hand, thuscausing the left wheel to revolve faster, and, the swivel-wheelaccommodating itself to the direction of the driving-wheels, thecarriage will turn to the right. To turn to the left, he will pullharder with the right hand.

In going down hill, the carriage may be steered by the yoke-lines, or bybrakes acting on the drivingwheels.

To insure more steadiness in travelling, there may be elastic cords orsprings connecting the ends of the yoke to the frame of the carriage insuch manner that the swivel-wheel B shall always have an inclination torun parallel to the driving-wheels. A harder pull with one hand wouldcause the elastic on the same side to stretch sufliciently to permit theswivel-wheel to adapt itself to the new direction of the carriage, whileit would not be so sensitive to any slight obstructien or varia tion inthe power of stroke on either side.

0 Mint.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

Conveying motion to the driving-wheels of a velocipede or other machineby means of the combination of loose pulley O lever-cam M band D, andspring E, with the hub or shaft of the wheel.

TH. E. M. WHITE.

Witnesses:

J no. DAVIS, WALTON RIOKETSON.

